Pontypridd Specsavers backs Welsh Bowlers

Specsavers in Pontypridd has renewed its sponsorship of the Welsh Association of Visually Impaired Bowlers (WAVIB).

The £2,500 deal sees the Taff Street store, along with 34 Specsavers stores across mid and south Wales, support 53 members of the association.

‘Fantastic organisation to support’

Specsavers will contribute towards the cost of travel, food, green fees and accommodation for the tournaments played by members of the WAVIB, as well as team kit branding.

Specsavers first sponsored the association in 2014 to promote the importance of regular sight tests to help identify eye health concerns and to show that people with vision loss can still play sport.

Geraint Jones, director of Specsavers in Pontypridd, said: ‘The Welsh Association of Visually Impaired Bowlers is a fantastic organisation and we’re delighted to continue to support it again this year.

‘If an individual has sight loss it does not have to restrict you from taking part in team sport and the association’s players are a shining example of this. At Specsavers, we’re proud to nurture sporting links within our communities.’

‘Support of global brand’

The WAVIB is the umbrella organisation that oversees the six visually impaired bowls clubs in Wales, it has more than 50 players aged between 30 and 85 years old.

Bill Marshall, vice-chairman of the WAVIB, said: ‘There are often considerable barriers faced by our members in terms of transport, accessibility and finance, so having the support of a global, well-known brand really does help to overcome many of these.

‘The association provides sporting opportunities for visually impaired members at all levels, from social right up to international level. Sport can really transform lives and WAVIB enables blind and partially sighted people to participate in sport. Specsavers’ funding will further assist our organisation to make a real difference for our members.’